
tp-r. 







4-°-*. 



'<?'. * o « o « ,<s^ 



:<i. ♦ « „ « 9 




•- %>„ A* ** 



"tt. <i' 








V *^^ ..WWW* <!? ^/v .«^il^^ .^ <^^ 








* A 









>A. *0.0» ^H{,^ 



^O 










A ©lAfS 1L@W 



TO THE 



PRINCIPLES OF ABOLITION 



BY A LADY OF>*»eEDERICKSBURG, Va 



We "tnd. fio mention of aaves^ b'efore the deruge, but immediately after, 
viz: in the curse of Canaan, Gen. chqj. xi.,v. 25, whence it is easily- 
inferred, that ser\'itude commenced sooii aTler that time ; for in Abraham's 
-days we find it generally established. Some persons are of opinion that 
it commenced under Nimrod, because it was he who first began to make 
war, and of consequence to make captives, and to bring such as he took, 
either in his battles or irrapticns, into slavery. 

Great part of the Roman wealth consisted in slaves, and they had the 
power of life and death over them. In recurring to the Holy Bible we find 
much upon the subject of slavery, and in relation thereto the following 
extiacts cire submitted, viz : 

Exodus, chap. 21, verses 20 and 21. "If a mai.- smite his serv^ant<?r his 
maid with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall be surely punished, 
notwithstanding if he continue a day or two he shall not be punished, for 
he is his money.'' 

Leviiicus, chap. 25., 45 and 46 verses. " And, moreover, of the children of 
strangers that do sojourn among yoii shall ye buy, and of their families 
that are with you which they beget in yourland ; and they shall be your 
possession, and ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after 
you, to inherit them for a possession ; they shall be hovAmen forever ." 

J&elihe 3d and 8th. " And I will sell your sons and daughters into the 
hands of the children of Judah, and tliey shall sell them to the Sabians, to 
a people far off, for the Lord hath spoken it." 

Corinthians, 7 and 23, "Ye are bought with a price, be not ye the 
servants of men." 

Epitesians, chap. 6. " Servants, be obedient to them that are your 
masters, according to the flesh with fear and trembling." 

1st Peter, chap. 2. IS. " Servants, be subject to your masters, with all 
fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." 

In compliance witii the solicitations of some distin^ished gentlemen of 
the South, who I was introduced to in Washington, Norfolk, Philadelphia, 
and the White Sulphur Springs, which I visited last summer, convinced 
of the %>acked intentions of th^se men who compose the principal leaders 
of the abolitionists, I beg leave to oiler to the public my sentiments on 
this subject. Had those blind leaders of the blind been actuated by love 
to their fellow creatures, instead of a blind infatuation, ambition and 
jealousy, that the rising prosperity of the Southern States — had a desire to 
produce a revolting spirit in the infatuated and misguided slaves, hoiding 
out a hope of rescuing them from tlieir long accustomed servitude, which 
ought to have become a second nature, and whose situation v/as far more 

I 




2 

preferable than the wretched poor emigrants -which crowd the IVorthenf 
cities, for scarcely a steamboat lands in New York or Philadelphia but 
there is from fifty to a hundred of the houseless children of men eager to 
naturalize themselves, and willingly become bondsmen and women in 
order to obtain a livelihood. I say if those charitable enthusiasts would 
have exercised their humanity in behalf of the suffering poor, no doutt 
that the blessing of God would have crowned their efforts with success, 
and they would not have added one more linlc to the chain of those unfor- 
tunate blacks, whose situation was far more desirable than the poor people 
of their own States. Why did they not exercise their philanthrophy to the 
poor which they'have seen leaving their native States with their wives and 
helpless little ones, a small^ wagon and one horse constituting their whote 
equipage. But we hear of no sympathy for them ; they did not furnish a 
proper field for their diabolical purposes ; they could not expect to aggran- 
dize themselves by having their sympathies excited. Why diu not ti.ose 
miserable men, like the great philanthropist Howard, immortalize them- 
selves in visiting prisons or hospitals, which contain sufficient subjects to 
appal the good man and to exercise his benevolence, instead of engendering 
a spirit of revolt in the blacks. Putting the subject on the most favorable 
issue, how impracticable w<ould have been the execution of their diabolical 
scheme. Were they not conscious of the impossibility of its execution, 
that restriction which the nature of the case required from the slaveholder 
towards his slave was, of necessity, put in execution, and almost deprived' 
the slave of a respite from his accustomed labor^ and abridged his former 
privileges. It was as cruel in the Abolitionist as if he had advanced to a 
prison or a dungeon wall, where one small crevice was left to admit a ray 
of light to cheer the gloom of its wretched inmate, and leave him in 
Egyptian darkness. I say they were equally as cruel to hold out a hope 
to the slave that their freedom was to be obtained by their diabolical 
suggestions, if the Alm?ghty, who holds the universe in the hollow of his 
hand as it were, lesides over the hearts of his people, the work of his 
hands, and the sheep of his pasture, should he, in his unerring wisdom, 
see fit, as in the case of the children of Israel who, after more than five 
hundred years of cruel bondage, the King of Egypt saw fit to deliver them 
from their long captivit}% by the hands of Moses and Aaron, his chosen 
servants, and to subdue, by a repetition of miracles, having power ^iven 
them from above to convince him that the invisible power of the Almighty 
w^as visibly against him, to subdue his rebellious heart and bring him to 
submit to the Divine command, to let the children of Israel go; who 
eommamded the Red Sea to divide and m.ake a way for his chosen to pass 
through; whose waves he caused to return and overwhelm proud Pharoah 
and his host, but brought his chosen people out, led them through the 
wilderness, gave them manna from heaven to eat, guided them hy day with 
a cloud, and a pillar of fire by night, who caused Moses to smite the 
stubborn rock from whence issued water to refresh them ? who com.manded 
Moses to elevate the brazen serpent in the wilderness, that whosoever 
being bit by those poisonous reptiles and flying serpents with which the 
wilderness was infested, by looking to they might be healed? It will 
require the same hand, if he sees fit "in his wise dispensation, he will effect 
his own purpose, for a thousand years,, in his sight, Js as it were but one 
day. And until then let the infatuated and misguided Abolitionists submit 
their judgment to men who are better judges of the case, acquainted with 
the scripture, and God's Avaj'^ of dispensing his power. I have observed 
in the commencement of the subject, ever since the'formation of man from 
the dust, and the extensive dispersion of mankind through the boundless- 
creation, slavery has been permitted and tolerated, for some w'ise purpose 
we are not able to solve, and will continue till time shall be no more ; and 



*^--xve who see him through a glass darkly, will see him face to face, and all 
^•'>those mysterious dispensalions which appear inexplicable to us, be made 
^^ clear and manifest. The Abolitionists will say my ai-guments are drawn 
^ from the Oil Testament, that we are not under the law but a debtor to 
L^grace ; but is not the han-l of those that are under the law make us who 
-are under trrace ? for no sooner had man fallen from his first transgression 
^in the garden of Eden, where he had his place assigned him, then the 
grace under which we lived was promised ; for the Saviour, which Adam 
liad as great an interest in as we have, was represented as a lamb slain 
from the foundation pf the world. Do they suppose that supreme laws of 
God are to be altered ? Every generation that is born are to be governed 
by a different law and gospel, as their circumstances may require. Let 
the Aisolitioiiists prove that the scriptures are not of Divine origin, that 
they make no mention of slavery, or that there did not exist any macks at 
that period, that it had reference only to those captives who were takea 
in making war one with another ; that God makes use of one generation 
as an instrument in his hand to scourge another, and wink at those things 
in that dS.y ; but in this gospel day requires a dilierent course of obedience. 
I tiiink I can confute their futile and flimsy arguments on that point by 
adducing several sentences from the New Testament. I will commence 
in the case of a bond servant, who escaped from the service of a rigorous 
task-master,,who fled to Paul for protection, w'hich he received, not as a 
fugitive runaway from his master, but he received him as a brother, and 
retained him until he wrote to his master by him to whom he recom- 
mended the runaway, not only to be pardoned, but to receive him kindly 
a^ a brother, for his sake — he does not mention him, nor does he think it 
necessary to designate his cover; it was suflicient to desimate him as a 
servant to his master. If those kind hearts of the Abolitionists were 
actuated by love and commisseration to their fellow- creatures, either white 
or colored, rather than from a jealousy of the prosperity of the slave-holding 
States, why not find exercise for the sympathies in commisserating anil 
ameliorating the condition of their own color, acoordiiig to the old mark, 
:hat charity begins at home — it appears that a man's own color comes 
nearer in similitude to himself than amalgamating with an opposite, as 
different as midnight's gloom to brightest day. God has, for wise purposes, 
made a wide distinction in the external situation of this life, this life being 
only a prelude to one of endless duration, where distinctions will be at an 
end but that of the saint and sinner. No sooner had the earth drank the 
blood ot righteous Abel, shed by his murderous brother, than the Divine 
edict came forth from the Almighty,, that he would set a mark on the 
murderer, and by that mark he should be recognized and not be slain ; that 
he became a fugitive and separated from his father's house, that he 
departed with his family to the land of Nod, Irom which a generation, 
according to the Divine edict, should be born distinct from other nations, 
as to be of a difl'erent color. I have ever been of opinion that the mark 
♦ et on Cain was of a color covering him from liead to foot, and was trans- 
mitted to his posteritj' — and that the land of Nod, where he so sojourned 
v/ith his family, was that of Africa, where the blacks first originated — and, 
agreeable to the scriptures, that the sins of the father should visit the 
children to the third and fourth generation, ibr what greater sin could have 
been committed at the commencement of the world than the murder of his 
brother ; the sin was of so great a magnitude that it entailed slavery on all 
his posterity, which I think the best reason that can be adduced. No 
doubt they are of the seed of Cain ; the word Nod implies that of drowsi- 
ness, duHness, supineness, inertness, or want of al^ility of body, of bright- 
ness of intellect, or readiness of comprehension, or an enlargement of the 
faculties, a want of constant progression towards an improvement. We 



must observe what a vast difference there exists between their sensibilities 
and those of a white man. It might be advanced against those arguments, 
that God makes the back to bear the burden imposed on it, and, in mercy 
has denied to them that refinement of mind and susceptibility which would 
constitute their misery. But could not God, if he had thought proper, 
place them on an equality ? Had he not the power of controlling them as 
the bit is put into the mouth of a horse by which he is turned about at the 
will of the rider ? Not that I would compare or insinuate that they are to 
be put on a level ; far from it. I think they are fellow-creatures as well 
as we are, susceptible of pain, and, in the wise dispensation of Pix>videncej 
we are the disposers of their destiny. I thinlc they should be treated with 
the greatest humanity, as far as circumstances will admit, to ameliorate 
their situation, for it is the interest of the master to observe to his slave 
that kind of love which makes the servitude of principle in the slave to 
serve and obey his master; not with eye service, but with obedience and 
willingness to discharge his duty in that state of life which it has pleased 
God to place him. 

Since making the above remarks, I was informed by a gentleman of 
unquestionable authority of a circumstance which ca.me immediately 
under his notice : A gentleman from Virginia had travelled as far north 
as New York, who had taken his man servant with him, who Iiad left a 
wife and children behind him ; after remaining some time, and discharg- 
ing his accustomed round of duties faithfully, became acquainted with 
some of these Abolitionists who were of the Quaker persuasion, and had 
so far insinuated into his credulous mind, and filled his head with the 
value of freedom obtained by any means, he was induced to inform his 
master, on his requesting him to prepare to return to Virginia with him, 
was answered that he did not think proper to accompany him again as a 
slave or cLS a hired servant, but should remain where he was. His master 
finding him in such a state of resistance against his authority, and being 
well acquainted with the advantage which was often taken by the slave 
accompanying his master to the northern States, endeavored to bring him 
over to obedience by making an appeal to his feelings, knov.^ing that force 
would not avail. In this case he asked him if he could willingly abandon 
his wife and children, which he well knew was ardently attacned to him ? 
After some hesitation, and evidently a conflict with himself, a strife be- 
tween conjugal love and the newly awakened love of liberty, he answered, 
he thought lie could. His master found tliat expostulation would be 
unavailing, thought he might induce him to continue with him by keeping 
an eye on his clothes, which he had brought into his room. But such a 

Erecaution was of no avail, h^ had' to leave without him. The slave put 
imself under the protection of one of those kind hearted abolitionists of 
the Quaker persuasion, and found he had to perform a double round of 
duties every day with his new master, under the pretext that he must 
remain with him till such a time, which, after the expiration, he might go 
at large without any fear of being molested. His master had left instruc- 
tions with his friend to offer five hundred dollars, the worth almost of the 
slave, for he was determined to recover him, if possible. Some short 
time after the above sum was advertised, the identical Qualcer who had 
stimulated the slave to resist the authority of his master, and put himself 
under his protection, under a solemn promise he would defend him, and 
give him all the advantage of the law, went to the gentleman who had 
authority to offer the above sum for his apprehension. He introduced 
himself by asking if he was not the person who had offered five hundred 
dollars for the apprehension and delivery of a servant of such a descrip- 
tioh ? Having been answered in the afiirmative, observed he could deliver 
the servant on having the sum specified in the advertisement paid over to 



hinu And moreover, if he would accompany him home he would deliver 
the servant. The money was paid to him immediately. The gentleman 
accompanied the Quaker to his house, when, as soon as the servant recog- 
nised his master's friend, then he claimed protection, and obsen^ed he 
found the freedom which the Abolitionists otfered the slaves who was so 
credulous as to believe them, was by far more servitude than they were 
accustomed to with their former masters. He farther observed, the 
identical Quaker was the man who first inveighled him away from his 
master, to v/hom he was perfectly willing to return. 

I have often observed, with the most perfect astonishment, during two 
Sessions of Congress, which I attended every day, to see John Quincy 
Adams setting on the floor in the House fro-.n eleven in the morning till 
four in the afternoon, his gray bald head whitened with tlie frost of many 
winters, advocating a principle in favor of the Abolition question, with 
such vehemence of words, distortion of features, and working his body 
as if he was evidently agonizing with Saint Vitus's dance, exposing him- 
self to the ridicule and contempt of his opponents ; a man which could 
not be actuated, at his time of life, by any other motive than avarice, a 
passion which continues much longer than any other with mankind ; a 
man whose father was the second President of the United States ; one 
who succeeded the immortal Washington in command ; one who had 
filled the same high station himself; who had so far descended, by his 
vciscillating cond-uct, as to leave him no "permanent claim on either party; 
one who subjects himself cO be insulted and made sport of by both sides of 
the question. Viewing him in the light which he stands before the public, 
I often think of the remark of Cardinal Woolsey, who, at losing the 
favour of his King, was brought to the humiliating confession, " Had he 
but served his God with as much zeal as he had his King, he would not 
have deserted him in his old days." I am afraid, when Mr. John Quincy 
Adams comes to die, he will be compelled to make the same heart-rend- 
ing and humiliating confession. Had he served his God with more sincerity 
than he had his countrj% he would not have left him, and thrown him on a 
vacillating pivot which turns to every propitious vnnd that will blow him 
a favorable gale. On a view of the subject I think proper to bring to the 
view of my patrons the proceedings of the Anti- Slavery Society of Penn- 
sylvania, lately convened at Harrisburg. They will judge for themselves 
of the temper of these men, and the tendency of their opinious and 
principles. 

We shall keep the slaveholding States informed of tlie events in relation 
to this mad and mischievous enterprise, leaving them to pursue such a 
course in their defence as their own judgment may dictate. I concur with 
those who believe that the incendiary spirit which is abroad can only be 
met and successfully opposed by a firm and united stand on the part of the 
slaveholding States. Measures ought to be adopted by them without 
delay, avoiding all exciting and intemperate appeals; should be distin- 
guished by a calm, deliberate, and decided tone. The northern States 
ought to be informed, on the highest authority, that the slaveholding 
States will never submit to their interfering in any way with this subject 
belonging to them exclusively ; and they will admit of no oificious foreign 
mediation for the benefit of those who may not have had an opportunity, 
by an extract from their own words, that "in christian meekness they 
intend to maintain the right of exhorting those who uphold an institution 
so evidently unjust as that of slavery, to examine its operations upon all 
classes of the community, both individually and collectively; confident 
that if they do so with unprejudiced minds and sincere motives they will 
be convinced of its sinfulness ; and thus be prepared to commence imme- 
diately the great work of freeing themselves and their countiy from its 



6 

paralizing influence. That having put their hands to the plough of hberty, 
then gave their sacred pledge never to look back until the noxious weed 
of slavery shall be exterminated from the American soil — that the sinful- 
ness of slavery lies chiefly in its vital constituent principles, the holding 
and treating of man as property ; and in this respect all slaveholders, the 
kind as veell as the cruel, are alike guilty of a heinous crime in withholding 
from their fellow men unalienable rights, trampling under foot the image 
of God, and disregcirding the eternal and immutable distinction between 
a person and a thing ; that slavery is a disgrace to a civilized world, ancj 
to the age in which we live, an act whicli our Government cannot sanc- 
tion, directly or indirectly, without entitling us as a people to an eternity 
of infamy." 

I now leave my readers to judge for themselves what kind of measures 
are necessary to be adopted and carried into effect in order to exterminate 
such principles, so dangerous and wicked in themselves. And if once 
carried into execution what would be the result? a sacrifice of property, 
lives, and every thing that is valuable in life. 

I was informed by a gentleman of unquestionable authority, who was 
present at the Tabernacle Church in Broadway, New York, on the first 
Sunday in May, where there were several hundred people congregated. 
He informed me that it was their sacramental sabbatn ; after the sermon, 
the invitation was given in a general way to all who were in good stand- 
ing in their own churches, to come forward and partake of the sacred ele- 
ments of which the Lord's Supper is composed. The minister further 
observed, he hoped it would be borne in mind, that all who were not in 
favor of immediate and unconditional emancipation, would not consider 
themselves included in the invitation ; with that the greater part of the 
congregation withdrew from the table. From such a procedure what may 
we look for, when such an incendiary spirit has insinuated itself even into 
the sanctuary of the Lord, and has extended itself so far as to exclude all 
who are not imbued with the same diabolical spirit, from the sacred altar 
of the Lord. I could advise all those who are impregnated with the spirit 
of abolitionism, to freight a vessel with its baneful influence and send her 
to Liberia, and by this means we shall get clear of one of the most dan- 
gerous and absurd principles which are now abroad. 

Visiting Philadelphia, which truly may be called the Metropolis of 
America, boarded at the North American Hotel, on Chestnut street, 
occupied by Mrs. Yohy and Captain Blackstone, a house too well known 
to visiters and citizens to need any comment, a house that receives the 
pcissengers every day from Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York boat, 
in addition to an overflowing number of boarders. The house is on the 
most extraordinary plan, and is superior to any in Philadelphia. She has 
three beautiful daughters with her, the youngest the wife of Mr. Thames, 
a merchant on Market street, is surpassingly beautiful and affectionate. I 
am indebted to her for the principal gratification I received during my 
stay in Philadelphia. She cheerfully accompanied me to all the distin- 
guished squares in her private carriage. I was gratified on one fine 
morning, in the month of October, by a visit to Fair Mount, opposite the 
banks of the beautiful Schuylkill. The reservoir of the water with which 
the city is supplied, cleanses the streets, and is conducted to a height of 
several hundred feet from its level, forced to ascend by machinery^ and 
conveyed by many thousand pipes, and affords a constant supply. We 
then visited the public burying ground ; the ground is laid oflT, one would 
suppose, to gratify the eye rather than the depository of the dead. The 
great expense the survivors put themselves to, reflects great credit on 
them. We were on board the Pennsylvania, the largest and finest ship in 
the world. I think she is sufficiently large to be a terror to the whole British 



Navy. They wont find her timber, copper, or ffuns, or officer^ of that 
kind of metal which wo'uld make them yield to his Britannic Majesty's 
squadron as easy as Fanny Kemble anticipated they would. She is as 
much deceived in that as she is despised by the Americans. I visited the 
Lunatic Hospital in Philadelphia, one of the most humane institutions in , 
the world. It affords an asylum for the most wretched part of God's creation; ' 
for of all the ills which the human family are subject to that of derange- 
ment is the most lamentable. Yet there was much to ameliorate their 
situation. It was a subject of surprise, as well as sympathy, to observe 
three lawyers who were, at one time, considered the most eminent in 
Philadelphia, but at that time convalescent. I thoueht of the remark of 
our Saviour in pronouncing sentence on the Scnbes, Pharisees, and 
Lawyers : " for you enter not in yourselves and you hinder others also." 
I observed a splendid monument erected to the memory of Charles 
Nicholas, who emigrated to this country, and made an independent 
fortune in the city of Philadelphia. A short time before he became an 
inmate in the hospital he had a strong presentiment that he would sooner 
or later become one ; consequently he availed himself of a small ray of 
reason that had not been prostrate, and bequeathed nine thousand dollars 
to the hospital — was an inmate for sixteen years, and requested to be 
interred within its ground. His monument is erected in the centre of the 
back ground, enclosed with a handsome chain supported by beautiful 
marble posts. My attention was directed to a small mound scarcely raised 
above me surface of the ground, and which contained the unfortunate 
remains of the wife of the rich Girard, without the smallest stone to inform 
the visiter who was deposited there by the side of so splendid a monument. 
After expressing surprise that the rich Girard, who had bequeathed so 
many thousands to be appropriated to different institutions, and erected 
many superb buildings sufficient to fill some of the largest squares, wliich 
were called Girard's squares, should sufier his vdfe's remains to be 
deposited in the ground of a lunatic hospital, I was informed she had 
been an inmate for sixteen years. I inquired if her husband did not visit 
her in her sad sojourn in this vale of tears. I was informed he did ; but he 
did not come with love in his heart or kindness on his tongue, for she was 
always much worse after his visits than before. He was not of a disposi- 
tion to conciliate by his kindness, but of the contrary. The first thing 
that interested my attention upon entering the hospital over the mantle- 
piece of a highly finished library, arranged with the best authors, was a 
portndt representing a beautiful female, half clothed, whose large black 
eyes once emitted love and intelligence, ready to start from their sockets, 
and whose features were once beautiful now distorted. I inquired if it 
represented any v^Tetched inmate of the hospital ; I was informed it was a 
fancy piece. I thought it quite unnecessary to have recourse to fancy 
when there were so many realities to excite the strongest S3anpathy. The 
great humanity vsdth which the invalids that have recourse to the sick 
department, reflect great credit on the hospital — care is talcen to restore 
them— they are permitted to leave the hospital when they think proper. 
If the friends of the unfortunate inmates would, vrith the consent of the 
faculty, remove their friends on a return of reason, however short the 
intervals, to some cheerful place, and engage them in a lively manner, so 
as to detach them from a retrospective \aew, there would be many 
miserable beings which now live and die deprived of one of the greatest 
of blessings, a sound mind and a brilliant understanding. My sympathy 
was much excited for those practitioners at the hai, who, before their 
minds had become prostrated, or during the painful process in passing 
through such a fiery ordeal to unhinge the links of a once well regulated 
mind, the conflict must be more paiimil than one of a more ordinary cast- 



I felt more for those lawyers. My attention was directed to a beautiful 
girl of eighteen, that had been immured within its gloomy walls for two 
years, whose name was Caroline Little; she was the daughter of a widow 
lady of that city, her father had been a capital merchant. She had, before 
that fatal pas-sion, love, which, without the aid of reason and experience, 
which has caused thousands of the credulous to reciprocate with the 
deceitful and treacherous part of the other sex, who, after sporting with 
feelings of a fond female has abandoned them to despair — such had been 
the case of this beautiful and unfortunate girl. Previous to her derange- 
ment she was a valuable member of the Methodist church ; a serpent, 
similar to the one which beguiled Eve, under the sacred name of their 
pastor, insinuated himself into her credulous heart, deserted it as if it were 
a worthless thing. He did not, like his Divine master whose disciple he 
professed to be, who would not break the bruised reed or quench the 
smoaking flax^but after engaging her aifections left her a wreck of her 
former self, and a fit subject for a lunatic hospital. The punishment 
inflicted upon him was suspension and a denial of preaching the sacred 
gospel which he had polluted with his hypocritical lips, and disgraced the 
cloth he wore. I found her rational, and, no doubt, had been intelligent. 
I recommended to her to banish, if possible, every painful retrospective, 
and to obtain some strength of mind, and, if her physicians would permit 
her, to return to her friends, and, above "all, to select some other object to 
supply and fill the chasm in her heju-t as the best means of obliterating all 

Eamful retrospections. If I had the management of her care she would 
e restored to reason in a sirort time. I next went to see West's painting, 
which he describes with great accuracy, which Clu-ist performed in the 
temple in healing all manner of diseases. They are portrayed as large as 
life. I will endeavor to give a description of some of the most interesting. 
The first object on which I fixed my attention was the Saviour as far as 
the human imagination can conceive. West had arrayed all those acts of 
mercy which the scripture describes he performed while on earth. On 
one hand stands the Saviour, his countenance beaming with benevolence 
on those who looked to him for relief; his loved disciple John on the right 
separating him from the high priests, as ifthe touch oftheir garments would 
pollute those in which the Saviour was arrayed, a countenance represent- 
in the blackness of their hearts gnashing him with their teeth. On the 
left were his disciples, as large as life, executed in such inimitable accu- 
racy they appeai-ed to move as if they had life and bein^ ; one scene 
represented an aged mother laboring under long affliction with the palsy, 
borne along in the crowd by her affectionate sons, whose sorrowful hearts 
were evinced by their tears. A little above was a lunatic, whose bald 
head and distorted countenance, eyes ready to start from their sockets, 
with him his affectionate and sympathising sisters endeavoring, as far as 
their feeble strength would permit, to support his body, pointing out to 
him the Saviour. A sufferer carried on a bed. A blind daughter carried 
to him by her father, the daugh4;er more beautiful, though blind, than any 
one I ever saw. A mother with her sick and suffering child in her arms. 
A woman bowed down to th£ earth with her infirmity, endeavoring to 
make her way through the dense crowd, the extraordinary power of de- 
lineating that which faith alone could have represented to him, for he had 
no model but the scriptures. There have been many small representa- 
tions taken from the original. 

I conclude these remarks by giving a description of Harper's Ferry and 
the White Sulphur Springs. Mr. Jefferson in his remarks on Virginia, 
observed it was worth a voyage across the Atlantic to visit Harper's 
Ferry. 



9 

Sweet scenes of beauty, bold and fair, 

So pleasing to the sight, 
Where lofty nills their ramparts rear 

On nature's loftiest height. 
There the fair stream of Potomac glides. 

With Shenandoah unites ^ 
They both combine with equal force 

The stubborn hills to fight. 
What grand concussion there took place, 

Remains impressed around. 
The a%vful conflict there is seen. 

In daring marks 'tis found. 
Till victory did the cause decide, 

Bold Potomac claimed the day ; 
Majestic on the stream doth glide, 
♦ And empties in the bay. 

Having visited the White Sulphur Springs last summer, which may be 
truly called the fountain of health, I offered to the public this tribute of 
respect to its owner. 

Come all you who thirst for the water of life. 
Whether father, son, fair daughter or wife, 
Come drink at this fountain, you v*-ill certainly find, 
Relief for the body as well as the mind. 
For the man who to day does but totter along. 
By drinking it freely will soon become strong. 
The wife that is loosing her beauty and charms, 
Will return with new life to her husband's fond arms. 
The cheek of the lass that was blooming and red, 
Will receive here a^ain the bright roses that fled. 
The sweet little child, his father's dear boy. 
Who no health from his earliest breath could enjoy, 
Begins like the lambkin to sport and to play. 
And chase from his mother dull sorrow away. 
And thousands its power have had. 
Whom the doctors have since consigned to the grave. 
It bestows its blessings alike upon all. 
Fits the old for their chat, and the young for the ball, 
Where the lover may dance with the girl of his heart. 
And Hymen shall whisper they never shall part. 
It was once observed by a poet, that women were only qualified to 
nurse fools, and retail slander ; but he never dreamed that the matchless 
talents of a De Stael, lady Morgan, and Miss Edgeworth, would deck the 
diadem of literature with its most brilliant gems ; make the temple of the 
muses fit for the reception of the graces, and clothe the barren field of female 
authorship with the flower^' and picturesque foliage of sublime sentiment 
and exalted feeling, flourished in graphic elegance of diction ; as refined 
as ever love conceived the names of these unrivalled ladies, the glory of 
their own sex, and the admiration of the other, will be embalmea in im- 
mortality, and retain to the latest time, their mystical influence, that will 
conjure up the pleasing and endearing recollections in every mind, the 
countless expansion and versatility of intellect, illuminated the \vritings 
of Madam De Stael and Miss Porter, have filled America with admiration. 
The splendid productions of Miss Edgworth have enriched English lite- 
rature with as pure and sparkling ore, as philosophy could raise out of an 
inexhaustible mind. There is all the various sympathies and feelings that 



10 

fvern and direct the passions of humanity in the work of Lady Morgan. 
e find every subject arrayed in the seductive charms of sentimental 
sorcery, and rendered still more attractive, by the graceful drapery of 
llovi'ery diction in the romantic enthusiasm of patriotism, in tlie passion 
and energy that distinguished her vindication of her country, in the 
magnificence of style ; and for the vivid portraiture of Irish character. 
She is eminently superior to Miss Edgeworth. On reading her Itala, we 
were astonishecl by the bright eftulgence of her views, the powers of her 
descriptions, and the philosophic musings and wrapt conceptions which 
pervade the pages of that celebrated work, a work which, while it fills 
the sceptred despot of the Valley Alliance with terror, drew forth from 
Lord Byron the memorable and laudable compliment, which our fair 
countrywomen prizes more highly than all the imperial commendations 
Cagsar could bestow upon their everlasting favorites. I compassionate 
the tasteless critic, who is not delighted with the beauty of her style, 
and the glowing of her sentiments, where she toucj^es the affections 
and passions of the human heart. Her pages are fraught with that 
impassioned eloquence which impresses upon her compositions the 
seal of rapturous enchantment, and enlarges our ideas and sensibilities 
over minds, while it strengthens those bonds of philanthrophy that bind us 
to our fellow-creatures. The power of woman in this literary age has 
become as potent from iniellectual influence, as she was formally from 
personal attraction ; still we grant, that even in ancient times those women 
who governed the hearts and understandings of men, with the most 
unbounded sway, owed their powers less to beauty, and the charms of 
youth, than to the strength of mind and cultivation of talent. A woman 
without elegance, personal exterior, without the polish of accomplish- 
ments, is like a flower without fragrance. Aspacia possessed neither 
youth nor beauty. When Socrates became her admirer, and imbibed the 
principles of philosophy and love, and her charms were faded; when Athens 
was governed by her decrees, through the medium of Princess Corinna, 
of whose talents we read so much, and of whose beauty we know so little, 
preside over the heart of Pindar, the splendid abilities of Catharine of 
Russia, raised her from a cottage to a throne, by the magnetism of her 
conversation, and the brilliancy of her accomplishments ; and if we can 
credit the assertions of Dio, the only gallantry the voice of slander could 
say to the charge of Cicero, was his devoted attachment and literary cor- 
respondence with Casellia, a. female philosopher of seventy. It has been 
acknowledged by the Emperor Napoleon, that the brilliant and gay viva- 
city of Josephine could chase away the gloomy spirit of care from his per- 
turbed mind sooner than the conjugal endearments of the lovely daughter 
of Caesar. A woman merely beautiful may attract ; a woman polished 
with a mediocrity of education may please ; and both united may have a 
transient triumph over the hearts of men, but it is sense and virtue em- 
bellished by the graces of accomplishment that fastens on the mind, and 
enchains the affections. If to those qualities are added animation of tem- 
per, cheerfulness of dispositicni, and softness of manners, the power of 
their possessors becomes irresistible ; it is fondly acknowledged by the 
heart, it is ratified by the understanding, and exalts every delight the 
senses can bestow. 

The zeal with which the cause of liberty was embraced by la,dies in 
America during the war of the revolution, has often been mentioned with 
adoration and praise. One alone will forcibly illustrate the strength of 
their patriotic feelings. The spirited reply made by Mrs. Daniel Hall to 
an insolent British officer, on demanding the keys of her trunk : on 
inquiring what he expected to find there, his reply was, treason ; to which 
her spirited and heroic reply was, he might save himself the trouble, for 



11 

he mig;ht find a sufficient quantity of tliat at her tongue's end, to confound 
him if he was engaged in afar metre honorable cause. Had I had the mis- 
fortune to have been born and lived in those days, which were calculated 
to try the hearts of the sons and daughters of men, and posse:3sed the same 
independent spirit, which is as strong as death, I- might have left on 
record similar remarks. 

America's a delightful country sure. 

May thy freedom thro' all time endure, 

May independence thro' thy wide domain. 

Free the conti'ol of all invaders reign, 

May nature's bloom demanding trivial toil. 

Round thy rich landscapes of prolific soil. 

Ffeedom, sweet birthright from the skies, 

May thy sons thee as tTieir lives still prize. 

May no revolts with their infernal strings. 

Be "able to control thy golden wings. • 

On every side our naval forces guard 

Our happy shores, invaders to retard. 

How terrible by casting dread afar, 

Our thundering cannon in the din of vrar. 

Should England hope once more to try our strength, 

They will hear our thunder before they reach our length. 

England with war once convulsed our land. 

Would have wrenched our dear bought purchase from our hand.?, 

Hoped that beneath her galding fetters yell, 

Yes vv'hen lines meet by running parallel. 

To cherish hope of this as well she may. 

Try to arrest the lightning on its way ; 

As well attempt to stop the ebbing tide, 
"To still the thunder and the planets guide. 

Long Island, Brandywine, and Bunker's Hill, 

Guildford and Eutaw are on record still, 

To show what freedom's sons have undergone, 

What freedom's sons have for their country done. 

England, England, many a bloody scene, 

Is charged to you on Time's long annals been ; 

By fire and sword our once distressed land, 

Has sorely ielt thy oppressing hand. 

And sons of freedom, do your hearts give room 

To the thought that she is more kind become ? 

A wolf and bear, though quiet in their chains, 

A wolf and bear in nature still remains : 

But let them loose no longer they'll suppress 

Thai baneful nature whicTi they still possess ; 

By all the horrors of vindictive rage, 

They'll quickly in destructions work engage ! 

So England yields submission, tho' with pain. 

Because she's bound by freedom's mighty chain — 

The infant child she Struggled with before. 

That infant has forced her to give o'er ; 

Hath to a great and mighty giant grown. 

Who would not dread the terror ot his frown !• 

England, England, iron pens would fail. 

Of ?11 thy guilt to give a full detail. 

Sons of Ireedom choose the soul appalling doom, 

Ere you again to England's chains give room : 

Like Sampson rend her g-alding bands. 

And hail sweet liberty in far distant lands. 



1^ 



12 

If I extol England, then my heart 
Would, with Delilah} act a treacherous part } 
Wlio many pleasing things to Samsoii said, 
And on her lap to slumber laid his head ; 
But while he slep, by hell-bred tutors taUght, 
She his sad murderers from the chamber brought— 
As when in camp, to rest great ai'mies go, 
A sentinel is placed to watch the foe. 
Great Washington, the bravest of the brave, 
Braced on his armor and redeemed the slave : 
Hid character exempt from eveiy shade, 
That not one vice did tarnish or dea,'rade ; 
From blame exempt, from every stigma free, 
Courteous, humane, and circumspect was he : 
Not prose nor rhyme can higher praise his name, 
'Tis stationed on the loftiest mount of fame. 
Exhauslless fund of art and virtue joined 
The noblest, bravest, wisest of mankind. 
Now near the fount of life's exhaustless springs, 
For other worlds he strikes the trembling strings : 
His hai-p attuned with the blood ransomed throng, 
Strikes sweet the numbers of immortal songs. 
When shall we meet him on that blissful shore, 
Where sorrow, grief, and mourning are no more. 
But ere we close, we caution France to pause, 
Nor marshal troops in an unlawful cause ; 
Let her behold her portrait in the glass. 
Examine well the two sides of her face ; 
She shall behold a shakened constitution. 
Brought by the shock of manj^ a revolution. 
Unhealthy picture all is fell disease. 
In wild commotion like the ti'oubled sea. 
Each limb distorted, every sinew strained ; 
And all her body exquisitely pained : 
To war, by land, or sea France may not roam, 
She has her wars and massacres at home. 
Our vessels proudly on the billows ride. 
Impelled by steam they thunder through the tide. 
Our cars by steam along the rail-road scour, 
The rapid speed of forty miles an hour : 
And tho' from steam we often hear a doleful story, 
Yet from all other arts it bears away the glory : 
As war trained armies against the hostile foe. 
From pondrous cannon chain-bound bullets throw- 
Then to the charge rush with impetuous force, 
Nor fire nor sword can stay their rapid course ! 
So on our rail-roads with resistless sway, 
Thro' rocks and hills they force their rugged way : 
In each deep crevice of the rocky vein. 
They pour the nimble fire attractive bane : 
The flash appears, the thunder claps resound. 
The dread concussion rocks the solid ground ; 
While showers of stones fly, casting dread afar 
Like loud artillery in the din of war- 
Trees and fences torn by rapid shocks. 
Of weighty fragments from stupendous rocks ; 
Clouds of sulphurous smoke on hioh ascends. 
And loud explosions massy rocks distends. 




54 



>'/> . 







^,^* •^«'- \/ .'""•■ -^ 












^'- "^^ .-^.-^ 



